The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1887-06-28

| and the palcr blue OK her large eyes, hid
| volcano of sensitive feeling under their
fair exterior?
Moreover, she was dressed in white,
with pearls and crystals and diamonds
sparkling on her bosom and the upper
parts Of her arms-indeed, she looked like
an fcicle. rs some one said
Ivan heard them say it as they passed;
he smiled
"Madam, did you hears"
ayes. " she answered
..Oh, tn them, yes-'an icicle'-and one
that they could never melt-but what do
you think Of me?''
sToo much to dare to utter it,"
impossible"
81 assure you
''Will You then permit me to he you
interpreter Roxandra SmirnoR says.
with n little smile just breaking the frozen
pink arch Ut her mouth
Ivan bowed. looking at her with that
comprehensive glance which man never
gives to but one woman in his lifetime
'You are kind to permit itr' The smile
breaks into little low ripple of cool
laughter, more Intoxicating to him who
listened than would have been the most
luscious mirth of the reddest lips Of his
own south land-
.sWeIl-you think-here is a woman
who has been loved, as brothers, friends
lovers love, by men Of talent, strength
in brief, by men-and not to he loved in
some fashion is for her n new sensation
from which she will not draw baek-no-
rather viii she extend tn this novelty the
right hand Of welcome; she is charmed
with it'll That is what you say to your
self, Ivan Ansslli, and you are correct. ]
wish nothing so much as that you shall
like me-not more than that-with that
am content"
''And I am not
Mime. SmirnoT shrugs her snowy
shoulders.
'sNo. Oh, by Heavenr' cries he under
his breath. ''What u woman you arep'
'What kind Of woman, then, am I9''
81 do not KNOW do not know-the
kind Of woman that IL Mt once mans in
SEPARATION and his despair can think Of
only two words of Dante's when look at
you"
And those are'''
''The eternal pearl"
''Your Italian said 1t of the moon"
ayes, and I borrow it for you-fOr,
should san dye you rs deep red as those
roses yonder-should crime blacisen you
rs somberly as look our starless nights
still you would to me shine forever white,
immaculate, spotiess; you puzzle, you ir-
ritate, you entrance mep'
Roxandra Smirnoff shoulders and Ivan
stoops to gather her fur cape over her.
why did you think of that;'
''Sin-and-crime?''
The music; n friends voice, these things
recall Ivan to an ordinary view of the sit
uation.
.'Ah," he says. "You must pardon
me. To tell you the truth, l stumbled
over a memento of friend of mine who
was murdered as / came out tonight, and
t. in ftupncp rluSf no haunting ~
.'And should such memcntos rise be
tween you and mes'' n,urmurs she in n
voice whose melted musicalness was moro
like perfume to his senses than sound"
Between u.s." corrects Ivan. NO
and yet, my countrymen are brutality SUI
perstitiOus, and am one of them"
''IIow2" she asks dazed1y.
''Well,' Ivan Ansaldi leans over the
high back Of Mime. Smirnoff's chair, his
arms folded, his eyes bent upon the fair
face upturned to question his.
''WeIl, we love each other; that is the
truth, is it not'''
YES" she breathes heavily under the
velvet of her bodice.
at is n great thing-it Is the thing i
have looked for all my life.''
''And L." Roxandra murmurs-
''YOu fill my eyes, my soul, my senses,
my heart and brain. l must tell it to
your
A little crimson color creeps into her
parted lips; little ficck of pink blood
tinees the white of her cheek.
"And, " Ivan says slowly and painfully,
''there il something else that l must say
to you Also. Donot deny me, do not even
look Mt met is fate, and with that it is
best not to disagree. / say to you good
by"
lie leaves her.
He leaves the house of his friend blind
ly, and, not stopping to enter a carriage,
PUSHES across the city tn his own house.
AS he enters the drawing room the dark
cloth covering the statue Of Memory clings
to his rough surtout. With muttered
exclamation me threw himself upon the
lounge.
He vaguely heard the bells ring ont the
hours-two, three. He listened to n dog
bark i'm the street, the dull sound Of car
riage wheels grating on the ice; voices;
lull; foOtsteps-sOme one without; some
one admitted by sleepy servant.
Ansalli neither turned his head nor
opened his eyes.
Presently he felt upon his brow u touch,
cool as the fall of dew upon the parched
earth.
He did not stir, save that n shudder of
incalculable pain thrilled him from crown
To hoel
.'It is Ip' murmurs the voice of Roxan-
Il know it," he replies. still without
moving.
''Shall aught come between MS now
now, when for you ] have risked every
thing? Answer me yes or no-,lo not
move, and then l go-already am here
too long. p"
With n motion of exquisite Difference, so
tender as to bc well nigh i,lolatrous, Ivan
Ansaldli took into his the white hand az
Roxant!ra SmirnOff and, rising, he raised
IL tn his lips. a kiss softer and sweetej
than incense ne gave it, and then his eyes
fell upon the ungloved hand of the woman
he loved-her right hand
With n cry of terror-a cry like that
which comes from the throat of some
wounded wild beast-he sprang back and
flung her from him.
''What is it? Ivan, what is its" Rox-
andra Smirnoff stands erect in the full
flare Of the many candles.
''What is itf" echoes the man. "Who
are you, shat are yons Let me look at
you, let me look at your
He reaches forward and takes her head
roughly between his palms.
SO YOU" Ivan catches at her other
hand and drops it with motion of horror
''You are both of themr'
what? whatf"
''Oh, never mind-I-" he wipes the
great drops from his face, and sits down
on the sofa, burying his face out of sight.
.'Oh, heavensr' cries she, nothing can
come between us now-what WAS itr-that
thought-aGains"
Eyes" he replies simply.
''Tell me all about it, and that will
end it.
''Will it7''
Eyes. You are fanciful, superstitious,
and 1? am here-and'-
ayes. Very well''-
Now tell me2''